Tool holder for a vacuum cleaner or other cleaning appliance

Abstract

The invention provides a tool holder for a vacuum cleaner having a main body, a wand and a hose therebetween, the tool holder ( 10 ) comprising attachment means ( 12, 14 ) for attaching the tool holder ( 10 ) to the vacuum cleaner and tool receiving means ( 22 ) for receiving at least one tool ( 30, 32, 34 ), wherein the attachment means ( 12, 14 ) are adapted such that the tool holder ( 10 ) is attachable directly to the hose ( 16 ) at any point between the main body and the wand.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A tool holder for a vacuum cleaner or other cleaning appliance having a main body, a wand, a hose extending therebetween and at least one tool removably attachable to the end of the wand remote from the hose, the tool holder comprising attachment means for attaching the tool holder to the vacuum cleaner and tool-receiving means for receiving at least one tool, wherein the attachment means are adapted such that the tool holder is attachable directly to a flexible portion of the hose at a point between the main body and the wand. 
     
     
       2. A tool holder as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tool holder is attachable to the hose at any one of a number of points between the main body and the wand. 
     
     
       3. A tool holder as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means comprise a cylindrical sleeve for surrounding a portion of the hose and at least one inwardly extending projection for locating between adjacent ribs of the hose. 
     
     
       4. A tool holder as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein a plurality of equispaced projections are provided. 
     
     
       5. A tool holder as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the projections are located on a helical path. 
     
     
       6. A tool holder as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the convolutions of the hose are helical and the tool holder can be moved along the hose by rotation about the longitudinal axis of the hose. 
     
     
       7. A tool holder as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the projections are located on an annular path. 
     
     
       8. A tool holder as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the or each projection is adapted or dimensioned so as to allow the hose to be pulled through the cylindrical sleeve on application of a moderate force to the hose, and to prevent such relative movement on release of the said moderate force. 
     
     
       9. A tool holder as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tool-receiving means comprise at least one peg or socket for slidably receiving a tool, and retaining means for retaining a tool on or in each of the at least one peg or socket in a snap-fit manner. 
     
     
       10. A tool holder as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the retaining means comprise a groove or tongue for receiving a corresponding tongue or groove formed on the respective tool. 
     
     
       11. A tool holder as claims in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means comprise a cylindrical sleeve for surrounding a portion of the hose and the retaining means are located on the cylindrical sleeve. 
     
     
       12. A tool holder as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one tool is received by the tool-receiving means, the or each tool extends generally parallel to and alongside the hose. 
     
     
       13. A tool holder as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tool-receiving means are capable of receiving a plurality of tools. 
     
     
       14. A tool holder as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the tool-receiving means are capable of receiving three tools. 
     
     
       15. A tool holder as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein when in use the tools are received by the tool-receiving means, the tools are equispaced about the hose. 
     
     
       16. A tool holder as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the tool-receiving means for receiving each tool are identical so as to allow any one tool to be received in any one of a plurality of different positions. 
     
     
       17. A vacuum cleaner having a main body, a wand and a hose therebetween, further comprising a tool holder according to  claim 1  attached to the hose thereof. 
     
     
       18. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising at least one tool, wherein the or each tool has a cylindrical sleeve receivable by the tool-receiving means of the tool holder and an annular tongue extending around the circumference of the cylindrical sleeve. 
     
     
       19. A vacuum cleaner having a main body, a wand and a hose therebetween, farther comprising a plurality of tool holders according to  claim 1  attached to the hose thereof.